As the Washington Wizards took big steps forward this season — especially during the playoffs — Al Harrington became that veteran voice on the bench. A guy with trusted advice for young stars like John Wall and Bradley Beal. The kind of wise veteran every young team needs.

However, what Harrington wanted to be was an influence on the court as well, problem was his 34-year-old body was not going to allow that. He had to have another knee surgery early in the season and he was limited later. (He did have the one 11-point Game 4 performance against the Pacers, but that was about it of note.)

“It was up and down,” Harrington said to describe this past season. “I guess it’s just part of getting older in the league. … having that surgery and not knowing if I was going to be able to get back and contribute. It’s been an up-and-down road but it’s been fun and at the end of the day, I was able to prove that I still could play a high level. Don’t write me off just because I’m hurt. These young guys embraced me and even the veteran guys respected everything I said whenever I said something. That’s the utmost respect….

“(Wizards owner) Ted (Leonsis) got the pockets, so if he want to go in the luxury [tax] and all that, he can bring back every last one of us,” Harrington joked. “I think the core that we have here is great and as many guys as he can keep, I think the better. That’s a great locker room in there. … I’m really going to take some time off and then some time throughout the summer, I’ll start evaluating if I want to play or maybe do something else.”

Here is what this means: Harrington will stick around if he gets an offer from a contending team, or one he wants to play for. It’s that simple. If the Wizards or one of the contenders comes at him, he likely signs on for another year. If his offers are to help Milwaukee or Philadelphia as they rebuild, he is going to move on to the next phase of his life (whatever that might be, he’d make a good coach).

For once it’s not about the money, it’s about the fit.

Washington would be a good fit agin for one more go around, they do love him in that locker room.

the Wizards have shown little appetite for dealing Otto Porter anywhere for a return heavy on future assets and cap flexibility, sources say

John Wall‘s massive contract looked barely movable even before he underwent season-ending surgery. Washington seems unwilling to take a step back by trading star Bradley Beal.

So, that leaves unloading Porter – who’s earning $26,011,913 this year and due $55,739,815 over the next two seasons – as the obvious way to create cap flexibility and accumulate future assets. If the Wizards are unwilling to do that, it speaks volumes to their plan.

They don’t want to rebuild. They want to win now. Porter can help them do that.

In many ways, it’s noble Washington is so committed to winning, even at great expense. That’s generally what we want from teams. We don’t want them to give up or cut costs just because they’re a couple games out of playoff position midway through the season.

But the Wizards’ spending has been… uneven. Leonsis greenlit a payroll well into the luxury tax and is apparently willing to keep Porter, which likely keeps that payroll high. Yet, Washington is also holding as many roster spots vacant as allowed, offering small savings rather than adding depth amid multiple injuries.

Maybe the Wizards just don’t believe they could sign minimum-salary players who’d actually help. But insurance never hurts on the court.

So, Washington is left looking content holding its few major contracts, nickeling-and-diming down the roster, winning a barely moderate amount and not gaining better position for the future. I’m unconvinced that’s a worthy vision, but if that’s what the Wizards want, keeping Porter helps stay that course.

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for aggressively pursuing an opponent in an attempt to escalate a physical altercation and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, which took place after Smart was assessed his second technical foul and was ejected, occurred with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics’ 113-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 19

Smart was seemingly near the line between this fine and a suspension. He’s fortunate to land on the side he did.